Storm Bert: Flood warnings an hour late, says RCT council leader

He said the current system and trigger mechanisms “are not fit for purpose”.

“If the systems worked correctly, and these people did not get a warning until there’s water in their houses, there is something wrong,” he added.

“If we would have known, with an hour’s notice, that there was a likelihood of flooding, we would have done our best to at least get sandbags there.”

He previously said he was “amazed” that only a yellow weather warning was put in place by the Met Office.

The Met Office said it would conduct a full assessment but that the storm was “well forecast” in advance with a number of warnings issued.

A major clean-up operation has been underway in the town since the storm.

Pontypridd’s grade II-listed lido in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park has been shut due to the damage, and will not open until the end of next week at the earliest.

But RCT council said it was hopeful that the annual 26 December swim at the lido will still be possible .